Car-coupling



(No Model.)

F. B. WOODMAN. UAR COUPLING.

No. 498,870. Patented June 6, 1893.

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UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK. B. VOODMAN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,870, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed October 18, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. B. VOODMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linne and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car couplers of the vertical plane type, and consists in certain improvements upon the coupler for which Letters Patent No. 476,349 were issued to me on the 7th day of June, 1892.

The object of the invention, as well as the specific improvements above referred to, will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a plan view of a coupler embodying my invention, with a fragmentary View of a companion coupler as in position when on a curve of the track, and of the means for disconnecting the couplers. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, on the line a: Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the under side of the draw-head, showing the device for throwing out the knuckle when uncoupled.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

Referring to the drawings, A is the drawhead, which is in the general form of this type of coupler, and is provided with the usual knuckle B. This is locked in coupling position by a gravity block C having diagonal side grooves c engaging with similar ribs ct on the inner sides of the drawhead. The tailpiece of this block connects by a link c with a link-block D, which in turn connects by a suitable clevis or link c with the shifter E eX- tending out to the side of the car and provided with a crank whereby it is rotated.

One of the improvements herein relates to the shifter and its connections. Instead of the direct link connection of the link-block with the gravity block shown in my said former patent, I connect the two parts by alink, which, in normal or locked position inclines upwardly and backwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. The effect of this construction is naturally to elevate the tail-piece of the gravity- Serial No. 449,256. (No model.)

block when the link-block is drawn backward, and the practical and important result is to relieve the gravity block of any tendency t0 bind on the inclined ribs in unlocking.

This not only diminishes the friction and draw-bar inside, keeping the link connection therewith at the saine altitude at all times. The rear end of the link-block d passes through a slot in the under side of the drawbar, so that there are no openings in the upper side of the coupler at all, to catch water or dirt. Y

Instead of the chain connection of the shifter (rock-shaft) E, shown in said former patent, I connect directly with the clevis c by a'loop E at the end of the crank at the inner end of the shaft. The shaft itself is journaled in the bearingF attached to the side of the draw-bar, and at the outer end in a bearing F secured to the car. By virtue of the loop referred to the same flexibility is given the connection as though a chain were used, with fewer parts, theloop allowing the hand-crank f the shifter to hang down when not in use, as shown in Fig. 2.

An improvement in the knuckle consists in providing the same with a plurality of notches or shoulders b b to engage with the gravityblock. The effect of this is to enable the coupling to be readily made on a curve of the track, a matter that is at present attended with some difficulty. The action of this part of the device is illustrated in Fig. l, where the draw-heads are represented as in the positions they assume when the cars are on a curve, and wherein it will be seen that it is practically impossible to force the knuckle clear back tothe final locking position by the natural impact of the cars. In this case, however, the block engages with the notch b', holding the parts firmly connected until, on passing to a straight portion of the track, and

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relieving the strain, the knuckle passes to the nal position,.when the block engages with the notch b.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown the device for throwing the knuckle automatically forward in position to couple, the position being indicated in Fig. 8. The pin B', forming the pivot for the knuckle extends some distance below the draw-head, and on this end is mounted the coil of a coil spring G. One end of the spring rests in a notch a formed in a lug A of the draw-head, and the other end in a stud or lugb of the knuckle. The springis held in place by a pin g with an interposed washer or thimble g (Fig. 2)

The advantages of'this device are its eX- treme simplicity, being quickly and easily m-ade of a piece of spring wire; its durability, this type of spring having better lasting qualities than almost any other; its position, which is such that it is protected from injury, and the ease with which it may be taken off and replaced by `another,rwithout the use of special tools, and at any place, in the yard or elsewhere.

-Having thus described my invention, -I claim- V1. Ina car coupler, the combination, with the draw-head and knuckle substantially as described, said draw-head having diagonalribs a d, of the gravity block C having di-k agonal grooves c engaging with the ribs, the

link-block D connecting with the shifting de- Vice'at one end, and at.the inner end with the gravity block by a link which in the locked position of the gravity block inclines upwardly and backwardly, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

v2. In a car coupler, the combination of the draw-head and knuckle, substantially as described, the gravity locking-block C, the linkblock D, inclined link c, clevis c and shifter E, having a looped portion E" at the end of the inner crank, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a'car coupler, the combination of the draw-head A having a downwardly extended lug A with a notch rt therein, the knuckleB having a ldownwardly extended stud or lug 5', the pivot pin B extending some distance below the draw-head, the coil springv G wholly below the body of the drawhead passing around said pin, with its ends resting insaid lugs. of the ydraw-head and knuckle, respectively, andmeans for holding the spring on said pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK. B. WOODMAN. Witnesses:

L. A. ST. JOHN, ADOLPH DRAHos. 

